The reopening of the Rexall Grill comes a month after the restaurant was shut down by the state after Gail Herrin, the long-time manager who rented the grill and ran it as her own business, failed to pay more than $248,400 in taxes from the past five years. With interest, penalties and a collection fee, that number had soared to $500,336.60. Much of the restaurant's famed Coca-Cola memorabilia was auctioned to help cover the tab.

Lynda Alley, who has owned the location and name of the restaurant for more than a decade, planned to open today under her own business license, bringing the entire staff back, including Herrin as manager.

Before the restaurant could be reopened, state regulations required Alley to add an expensive grease trap, which required workers to mark utilities, bust up concrete and shift plumbing. Alley also planned to repaint, lay new floors and repave before today's opening.

The restaurant should be open for the breakfast shift at 5:30 a.m. today, Alley has said.